Guerrero

5 inches, carved jadeite

This small, carved stone mask is pre-Columbian and from the Mezcala River area of Guerrero. For almost a hundred years this area has been scoured for artifacts that could be sold for quick money. Unfortunately all of this happened before archeologists could properly identify them.

It is probably a burial mask. The early civilizations drilled attachment holes like this, that is to say, with large tapering U-shaped holes from both sides of the mask and meeting in the middle. The eyes may have had inlays of shell or obsidian, but there is no trace of resin. The veined, greenish stone is quite handsome. Definitely very old and authentic. Anyone who loves Mexican masks should own at least one from the Pre-Columbian past.